Dean Ambrose revealed in a recent interview with Daniel Cutts that he’d love to do a cross-code fight in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) for the right price. The Lunatic Fringe claims to have no qualms about stepping inside the world-famous Octagon to fight anyone right now.

Anbrose grew up in the tough streets of Cincinnati, Ohio and has spoken about his love for fighting, on multiple occasions in the past. It’s interesting to note that the 31-year old WWE Intercontinental champion has not participated in any variation of legitimate, non-scripted combat-sporting competition in his life, apart from the WWE’s worked matches.

Despite not possessing any prior experience in professional fighting and having no background in martial arts, Ambrose opined that he will fight anyone for enough money- $500,000 to be precise. For those who don’t follow the UFC organization or the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), one ought to know that MMA is widely considered as one of the, if not the most, brutal sports in the history of mankind. Regardless, here’s what Deano has to say regarding a potential transition from the squared-circle to the cage-

“I’ll fight anyone for enough money—Give me half-a-million dollars. Put them in the ring, I’ll do it right now, I’ll do it tonight.”

The former WWE World Heavyweight champion also proceeded to narrate a scary, death-defying incident that he was part of just days before his title defense at Wrestlemania 33-

“I’m big into mounting biking. I actually crashed my mountain bike about a week ago very badly—I thought I was going to die. I fell over the handlebars, full on ninja roll, I flew like 8ft into the air.”

“I thought I probably shouldn’t be doing this a week before WrestleMania. You have to immediately get back on—I crashed on a downhill, you have to just continue. If you stop and think about it too long you’ll psych yourself out.”

The sports of professional wrestling and MMA are intertwined in several aspects, especially when you factor in the larger-than-life characters and outlandish promotional tactics in both industries. However, the latter comprises non-scripted hand-to-hand combat competition whereas pro-wrestling, although physically challenging, features performers who work toward executing their moves safely rather than with the intention of legitimately knocking out or hurting the opponent.

Several MMA fighters such as Ken Shamrock and former UFC Heavyweight champion Josh Barnett have achieved success in pro-wrestling, while on the flipside WWE stars such as Brock Lesnar and Alberto Del Rio (Jose Rodriguez) have a laundry-list of accomplishments in the sport of MMA.

Although Dean Ambrose may be willing to step into the Octagon for a ‘real’ SmackDown, he’s presently involved in a feud for the WWE Intercontinental title against the Miz and will defend his belt against the latter at the RAW brand-exclusive Extreme Rules PPV come June 4th.

Dean stands at an impressive 6’4” and weighs more than 220 pounds, and if he were, indeed, to lace up the MMA gloves and try his luck in the sport’s premier organization, I would definitely tune in to see him compete, for the pure freak-show factor more than anything else. Meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of the intense training the WWE Superstar undergoes on a regular basis-

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He could’ve made the transition had he quit pro-wrestling and focused full-time on MMA a few years ago. IMO right now it’s too late. I mean granted that Jimi Manuwa started at 29 or so, but he’s the exception rather than the rule.
Dean would get hurt if he were to face any top-20 UFC HW. Anyway, big props to Deano for even thinking about stepping inside the Octagon. Hell, I box in the amateur circuit in my country, but wouldn’t step into an MMA cage without training my butt off in BJJ and wrestling. It’s a long and lonely walk to the MMA cage (ring if you wanna enter RIZIN FF’s freakshow fights).

Johny Payne

There are shady areas in Cincinnati. Dean actually did have a tough upbringing, grew up in a rough n’ tumble neighborhood. His on-screen persona and real-life demeanor are not much different, as a result.

Johny Payne

Nah my friend. I do believe MMA is one of the most brutal sports in the history of human civilization. Granted that it isn’t a fight to the death like the Gladiator bouts of old, but the trauma that these athletes take changes them forever.
Look up Gary Goodridge, listen to how Chuck Liddell sounds now, read what happened to Matt Brown recently, Carlos Condit’s migraine problems. And that’s just naming a few. It’s brutal man. People have died of injuries sustained in the cage.

Johny Payne

Agreed. Plus what most people forget when they quickly bring up Brock is that Lesnar actually has a rich amateur wrestling background. Unlike Punk who had no prior, legitimate combat experience.

Johny Payne

Yes. The WWE does have a history of billing them as such. But he has decent size, so to speak. Could’ve competed as a LHW had he started MMA-centric training in his younger days.

MrDr3w

Me? Explain. Or how about an intelligent retort to my statement? The comment section was put in place to discuss the content in each article, not to troll fellow users. So who’s the real one who ruins the internet? Hmmmm…

Ben Tarr

He’s billed at 6’4. He’s more like 6’1.

Ben Tarr

People like you ruin the internet.

Buzzkiller73

He better go talk to CM punk its a whole different ball game getting punched in the face repeatedly for real!!

CC

“MMA is widely considered as one of the, if not the most, brutal sports in the history of mankind.”
Please tell me this is not a serious line.
If you really think that in the “history of mankind” that there has not been more brutal sports, you are deluding yourself.
Gladiator battles were considered sport. And they would have made MMA look like a picnic in a kindergarten
And even they were probably tame compared to other “sports” in less civilised parts of the world.
And then there is stuff like un-licenced boxing and bare knuckle fighting.

Johny Payne

Jackswagger could’ve done it though back in the day. The guy had a legit amateur wrestling background. It’s just that most people don’t understand how tough it is to step inside the Octagon.

pitfallharry219

I hope that line about the tough streets of Cincinnati was meant to be sarcastic.

MrDr3w

So the guy crashes his bike a week before Wrestlemania, and still performed st the event, but thought he was going to die at the time. Sounds to me like there’s only ONE WORD to describe him…

I would not put him in the octagon if he’s gonna cry after getting punched in the face.

Johny Payne

He does have the size and length. I’d like to see him train at Elevation Fight Team for a year, and then start with Bellator.

mftom

I would be interested in seeing this as i think he would be a good fighter. lets see where this all goes.